A 60-year-old Catholic priest is in custody after being accused of sexually abusing an 11-year-old girl in Jalisco.

Francisco Javier García Rodríguez was a friend to the girl’s family, residents of Punta Pérula in the municipality of La Huerta, and was a frequent overnight visitor to their home.

But after a visit in February during which the priest allegedly attacked her sexually on two nights, she told her mother in spite of threats of violence by García Rodríguez.

The accusation was made before authorities on April 23, who say that physical and psychological tests have revealed evidence of sexual violence. The priest was subsequently arrested in the community of El Chante, in Autlán, where he lived.

It was only last Wednesday that Pope Francis accepted the resignation of the bishop of Autlán, Gonzalo Galván Castillo, who has been accused of covering up abuse by another priest, Horacio López.

Autlán’s bishop since 2004, the 64-year-old Galván Castillo indicated recently he was suffering from health problems.

The case involving an 11-year-old boy in 2002 has never been resolved. The victim and his family accused the bishop of negligence for having done nothing about the accusations.